Yes, it can and here is how.

The most frequent cognitive deficits in persons with diabetes are:

o Slowing of information processing speed

o Slowing of motor speed

o Decreases in vocabulary and intelligence

o Lessening of attention span

o Decreases in motor strength

o Loss of memory

The single most important factor is glycemic or sugar control. Both too low (hypoglycemia) and too high (hyperglycemia) blood glucose can affect cognitive function. All of these above items improve with better glucose control.

Complications such as neuropathy (loss of feeling), retinopathy (loss of eye sight), and nephropathy (loss of kidney function) may take years to occur with diabetes. Cognitive deficits can occur much earlier (especially when your hemoglobin A1C is higher than 8.4%).

In elderly diabetic persons, this is especially true, with more than 10% showing at least some cognitive deficit due at least in part to poor blood sugar control.

Okay, so what can you do to keep your brain sharp? In other words, how do you keep all your marbles?
You keep your blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. In keeping a tight control over your blood glucose you will sharpen your brain and prevent any further deterioration.

There are three main ways of doing this.

o The first is to control your diet by counting your carbohydrates. Your health care professional can tell you how many carbohydrates that you should eat.

o The second method is to exercise. Exercise has been proven over and over again to lower blood glucose (and it makes you feel better). Exercise can lower your blood glucose for hours to days (after your exercise is complete). Make sure to check your blood glucose both before and after you exercise. You want it to remain within a normal level. Your health care provider can tell you what normal levels are for you. Never start an exercise routine without checking with your health care provider.

o The third method is medications. Not all diabetics take medications but if you do, make sure you take them properly.

Infertility is usually defined as the failure to conceive after a year or more of regular sexual activity during the time of ovulation. Infertility affects some 6.1 million American couples, and pinpointing the exact cause of the problem can be difficult.

In 40% of infertile couples, problems affecting the male partner are either partially or wholly the cause of infertility. The most common causes being low sperm count or anatomical abnormalities.

For women, the most common causes of infertility are ovulatory failure, blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids. Some women develop antibodies to their partner’s sperm. Psychological issues such as stress may contribute to infertility as well, although stress is usually the result of infertility, not the cause of it.

The following are the most common reasons couples are unable to conceive:

Either or both partners are suffering nutritional deficiencies that affect the functioning of their reproductive organs.
Either or both partners have been exposed to environmental toxins or chemicals that may affecting their overall wellness including their endocrine and reproductive systems.
The woman has a low grade infection.
The woman has endometriosis.
The man has abnormal sperm, a low sperm count or erectile dysfunction.
The woman’s fallopian tubes are blocked.
Ovulation takes place rarely or irregularly.
The couple is unable to have complete sexual intercourse.
The cervical mucous attacks and kills the sperm.
The woman does not manufacture enough progesterone to carry a baby to term.
The woman is over 34 years of age.

Often, more than one cause for infertility is found, and in approximately 20% of cases, nothing that would seem to inhibit conception can be found. Because there are so many causes of infertility, the opinion of a qualified health care professional is needed. There are a number of tests-some for men, some for women-that may be performed if conception does not occur within a twelve-month period. Check with your health care professional.